Weekly Report - 06 December 2018 (WR-18-48)

PERU: Uruguay denies García asylum

Peru’s former president Alan García (1985-1990; 2006-2011)was forced to vacate the Uruguayan embassy in Lima on 3 December after his asylum request was rejected.After various delegations had visited Montevideo in recent weeks to make the case for and against asylum, Uruguay’s President Tabaré Vázquezset aside any personal friendshipwith Garcíato announce that there was no evidence that he was the victim of political persecution; that the three branches of Peru’s government were functioning autonomously and freely, especially the judiciary;and that Uruguay did notoffer asylum to individuals seeking to avoid legal cases. The decision was a firm endorsement of the government led by President Martín Vizcarra, who saidit “strengthens democracy” in Peru and the fight against corruption.